Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children: more focus on care and support, less on diagnosis

ADHD diagnoses continue to increase, but Luise Kazda and colleagues argue that the push for diagnosis could be hampering access to care and support for children

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The prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children has been rising for several decades,1234 including in countries with previously low rates.5 In Germany, for example, the prevalence of ADHD in children rose by 77% over 10 years, from 2.2% in 2004 to 3.8% in 2013.6 Enhanced awareness of mental wellbeing and neurodiversity during the covid-19 pandemic has led to a change in public discourse around ADHD.78

Highly viewed videos on social media describe a variety of ADHD symptoms and encourage viewers to seek diagnostic evaluation.8910 Many of the most highly viewed TikTok videos (the #adhd hashtag stands at over 30 billion views) are easy to understand and relatable, but most provide content created by non-healthcare professionals that is often misleading or wrong,10 which can lead to “unrealistic expectations.”8 Diagnosis of ADHD, however, depends on an assessment of the frequency and severity of hyperactive and inattentive behaviours that exist on a …

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